Hair drier



June 28, E K. KENDlNG HAIR DRIER Filed Oct. 25, 1945 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. ERNEST KAISER KENDING.

A ATTOR H Patented June 28, 1949 I TED rsh-T ,o trier:

:1 HAIR DRIER Ernest Kaiser KendingfFlushing; N. Y.

*Applicaitmn October 23, -1-'945;=Serial l Ior 623985 .:space,is:easytomanufacture, light in weight, iconvenient for packing and shipping,fireproof,

'safe;economica1,' which can-be usedin connection *With' any source ofair under pressure, and :which is :particularly adaptedtobe used at-home,- as

a homeiappliance.

--:The object of: the invention is the'provisionof a: practical -hairdrierparticularly for-drying 'womens finger-waved hairiand of chemicallyset waves Whichdr-ier can be: operated. by the general public withouttraining and in full safety rec-fire "and accident.

--'Aside'fro1n the above features, an important object-of the newhair'drier is that, although "it uses air under relatively highpressure,no hot air is blown downward on the face'of the user.

Another object of the inventionistheprovision of a hair drier which usesairunder pressureand blows it onto the scalp and hairex- "clusively-andinsuch a way that water or liquid withwhich the hair has-been treated iseffect-iv'ely removed'and shaken out "and'evaporated even from theminute scales'on the surface of 1 the hairs.

An object of the invention is theprovisionof a hair drier in which nometallic surfaces are 'adjacent the hair whereby undesired heating ,byradiation is avoided. The new hair drierioperates substantially on heattransfer by convection. An object of the invention is the provision of a'hair drier which can easily be adjusted to suit any configuration andpositionof the scalp.

- An object of the invention is the provision of U a hair drier usingelectrically heated air from sany source of air under pressure wherebythe heating current is automatically shut off when- --ever the devicereaches an undesired high tem- -perature and whenever the person whosehair r isbeing dried desires shutting off of the heating ourrent andWhenever that person departs from thedevice.

..- -An object of the invention is the provision of a hair drier usingelectrically heated air from any source of air underpressure wherebyburning outof heating elements due to contact with too much air-oxygenis made impossible.

--An object of the present invention is to provide ahair drier in whichallthe albove enumerated desirable features are obtained .Joy extremelysimple means which are-available and need either no ori'slightmodifications only. Further and other objectsof the present in- 2vention will' be hereinafter set forth .inuthe aci.-.companyingspecification and claimseandeshowvn in the drawings which, by wayofxillustration, r sh'ow tvhat I now-consider tobe apreferred;emebodiment of: my invention.

:In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a part sectional side view of. therap- -:parat-usaccordingtothein-vention.

Fig. 2 is a rear viewfof the -d'evice"shownoin Fi a Fig. 3-isanelectricwiring-diagrammfitherapeparat-us according-to the invention.

,-.I =ike+parts are-designated by like numerals 'in :allfigures of thedrawings. Referring more cparticularly =t0 ether drawings, -:numeral Idesignates an e1ectric= strip element --which-is enclosedso asnot .toexpose itoto the .x oxygen of the airto avoidbrittleness andnburn ing.of-the resistance wire. I :The strip-is lecated in avertical-tube 2.0x"sufficient cross section and elength. to give the air rushing through ita chance wto pick up. the heat efiiciently. Bothcterminals 3 of. theelectric elementarein its upperend.

The-electric heater I 2 is within a decorative en-olosure t extendingfrom the base 5. Elam-ugh flthis enclosure extendsals the lower portionof the-standard:column 5' supported by-pedestail: 5. Tube 2 is fastened:to rod 6 by suitable=braekets v A panel l. isconnected to. theupper-portion of .-rod 6 within enclosure 4. Four.- electricrterminalsare mounted on panel 7. Terminals 8 and 9116- aceive the ends oftheelectric .wires lfi-leading to ar-walhplug Ii. -One:end'oftheheatingwwire --i2=in e1ement i is connected with terminal: 9.

I The other end=of wireit is connect-ed with a Wthermal-switch J3which-is ini-'physical--contact "with the outer wall of the heaterhousing 2.v n It Misactuated by the temperature of theuppempart 'ofthe-heater andcutsofi 'the current: its-said 40 a temperature is'ibetween 260$. and 300" FA according to the rules of -F-i'reUnderwriters. I-propose to usewhat islinownin the trade. as a=-K1iXonswitch. .-.-Anyother suitable'devices'uch as one which'carries currentoverload but meltsat 300 F. and then -inter'rupts -thecurrentandrwhibhcan bexreplaced, may be:employed. =From athe thermaLswitchlIithecurrent-passes a standard wcurrent' overload fuse l 4 fastened -to=theinsulated s panel 1.. and from this'iuse; to terminali5-iofvthe 50.distributing box.

iA momentary SWitCh |6= forexample asds knownin thetrade-as-Micro switchis-connected through several feet of wire:to points-l5=anddl ofthadistributing box.-: Switch li'r isropen all the time unlessdeliberately! closed bymtha person whose hair is being dried. The switchrequires only a very gentle pressure and does not tire the person duringthe half hour or so of drying operation. The combination of this switchwith the hair drier is a novel safety measure and of paramountimportance in such home appliance. Should, for instance, the person inthe chair leave, being called away by phone, door bell, etc. the currentmust at once be interrupted, particularly if by some unforeseencircumstance the supply of fresh air to the heater should beinterrupted.

The air to be used enters the bottom of heater I, 2 through a flexibletube I8. This tube may be connected to the pressure side of a vacuumcleaner, after disconnecting of the dust bag, or to any suitable sourceof pressure air such as, for example, an air conditioning system or roomoutlets of an air distributing system having a common pressure airproducer in another part of the building. The hot air leaves the heaterthrough a V-shaped member 89 connected to the top of the heater.

It is to be noted that the lower part of the drier, i. e. the partsdescribed so far, is a compact portable unit by itself which is smallenough to be shipped in a small carton or suitcase. It can be used forinstance as a room heater, by opening lid 20 on outlet IS.

The upper part of the device according to the invention comprises therelatively flat drying cap 2| with its flexible tubing 22 which bringsthe Warm pressure air from the outlet IQ of the heater to the cap, thevertical rod or column 23 which is remov-ably, yet rigidly connected torod 6 and forms therewith the standard around which the drying equipmentis built, the sleeve member or clutch 24, and the cap supporting rod 25rigidly connected to clutch 24. The whole upper part can be shippedeasily in a small carton or case.

The flexible tubing 22 is bent away from the chair, so as not to molestthe person in the chair. The upper end of the tubing is fastened intothe air inlet of the drying cap 21. The weight of the tubing, as far asnot supported by the heater housing outlet, is carried by the clutch 24at the upper end. The tube extends slideably through the sleeve portion26 of the clutch. The upper end of the flexible tube can be moved up ordown by sliding the slide member or clutch 24 on rod 23.

The cap comprises a bottom ring 21 made of non-metallic and preferablysomewhat flexible tubing to which the flexible hose 22 is connected forair supply. The size of ring 21 is such as to loosely fit the averagesize head at the line above the ears and beginning of the scalp on theforehead. A larger size may be made for large heads and a small size forsmall heads as it is an object of the invention to provide a cap whichdoes not leave an appreciable clearance between the scalp and the insideof the cap for reasons to be explained later. A rounded piece of tubingwhich may be made of the same material as ring 21 is connected to saidring for air flow and forms the crown 28. The inside height of the crownis preferably not greater than one half of the length of the largestlateral dimension of the opening at the bottom of the cap. The cap isshaped somewhat like a turtle back or a cobra head in contradistinctionto the dome shaped hoods of conventional hair driers. The cap accordingto the invention reaches not farther down than just to touch the top ofthe ears, allowing a fairly close fit to the head. The

bottom ring 21 is provided with small air outlet holes 29 adapted to letthe air escape in jets of high air velocity and directed upward andtoward the scalp. The apertures 29 are in the upper inner quarter of thetube cross section at an angle of 25 to 50 above the center line of thebottom ring. Both lower quarters of the cross section of the tube thatforms the crown are provided with holes 30 ejecting air at an angle of25 to 50 from the horizontal line on both sides of the tube. The totalarea of the small air holes in the skeleton of the cap formed by tubes21 and 28 should approximate the cross section of the air inlet into theheater housing to maintain the desired air pressure and speed of the airjets. The skeleton of the cap described supra is covered by a materialthat permits the warm air inside the cap to do its work, yet is porousenough to permit a direct escape of the air that has become humid.

With the air cap as described the air jets impinge on the scalp and theair is blown at considerable velocity between and underneath the hairand acts mechanically on the hair shaking the minute droplets therefromand eiiectively promoting evaporation and removal of the moisture. Theparts of the cap from which the jets originate are so close to the scalpthat the air has not yet expanded and not yet expended its kineticenergy when it reaches the hair. The moisture laden air is removedquickly, equally and substantially upward from all parts of the scalpand no hot air flows down the face causing discomfort.

The forward part of the cap is suspended from rod 25 by a flexible means33 extending around the crown forming tube 28 and ending in a hook 34.By sliding the hook along the light rod 25 and by moving the slidemember 24 up and down, the cap can be adjusted to a suitable angle andelevation for the head of the person whose hair is being dried. Only alight touch of the fingers of one hand is required to move the cap intothe the most eflicient and comfortable position.

While I believe the above described embodiment of my invention to be apreferred embodiment, I wish it to be understood that I do not desire tobe limited to the exact details of design and construction shown anddescribed, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled inthe art.

I claim:

1. A portable pressure warm air hair drier, including, in combination, astandard, a longitudinal electric air heater disposed substantiallyparallel to the lower portion of said standard and connected to it forsupport, a cold pressure air intake means at the lower portion of saidheater and a warm air outlet means connected with the upper portion ofsaid heater, a slide means vertically movably connected with the upperportion of said standard, an air conduit connected with said outletmeans and extending through said slide means, a support member connectedwith said slide means, and a drier cap depending from said supportmember and comprising a Warm air discharge means connected With said airconduit.

2. A portable pressure warm air hair drier, including, in combination, abase, a standard extending therefrom, an upright air heater resting onsaid base and connected to said standard, a cold pressure air intakemeans at the lower portion of said heater and a warm air outlet meansconnected with the upper portion of said heater, a slide membervertically movably connected with the upper portion of said standard, anair conduit connected with said outlet means and extending through saidslide member, a support member connected with said slide member, and adrier cap depending from said support member and comprising Warm airdischarge means connected with said air conduit.

3. A portable pressure warm air hair drier, including, in combination, astandard, an electric air heater comprising a longitudinal uprightconduit and a longitudinal electric heating element disposed therein,said heater being disposed substantially parallel to the lower portionof said standard and connected to it for support, a cold pressure airintake means connected with the lower portion of said conduit and a warmair outlet means connected with the upper portion of. said conduit, aslide means vertically movably connected with the upper portion of saidstandard, an air conduit connected with said outlet means and extendingthrough said slide means, a support member connected with said slidemeans, and a drier cap depending from said support member and comprisingwarm air discharge means connected with said air conduit.

4. A portable pressure warm air hair drying apparatus, including, incombination, an electric heater disposed in the lower portion of saidapparatus and comprising a cold pressure air intake means and a warmpressure air outlet means, a column member, aslide member verticallydis- 6 placeable thereon, a support means extending from said slidemember, a drier cap depending from said support means and comprisingwarm air discharge means, and flexible air conduit means connected withsaid outlet means, extending through said slide means, and beingconnected with said air discharge means.

ERNEST KAISER KENDING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,639,753 Shelton Aug. 23, 19271,894,709 Salm Jan. 17, 1933 1,946,638 Rasmussen Feb. 13, 1943 1,991,950Martin Feb. 19, 1935 2,037,695 Brownlee et al Apr. 21, 1936 2,063,896Martin Dec. 15, 1936 2,201,229 Gross May 21, 1940 2,281,993 PritchardMay 5, 1942 2,290,259 Vose July 21, 1942 2,329,352 Krueger Sept. 14,1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 288,656 Great Britain Apr. 10,1928 709,556 France May 19, 1931

